Retail Intelligence

As smartphones and the convenience of apps grow in popularity, it is important for a business to use that platform properly to target consumers. But what is behind a good mobile app?

In 2015, app sales increased to USD$59.86 billion from $35.48 billion in 2014, an increase of 68.7 percent, per a new study. And 303 of the world’s top 500 retailers now have an app.

But what separates a good retail app from a bad one? And why are some retailers making more money off mobile apps than others?

Ecommerce and brick and mortar retailers use customer data to individualise customer experiences, by using each platform you make sure your consumers are targeted at both sides.

Your standing in the retail apps economy isn’t just impacted by your own operational decisions. It’s impacted by competitive markets and how your app weights up.

So what makes a good shopping app?

The 2016 retail app sales leaders were based on ratings, user reviews, the quality of the mobile app and how easy it was to use.

The analytics were carried out by Applause Mobile Sentiment Analysis, a subscription-based SaaS tool that continuously crawls app store star ratings and user reviews and measures on a 100-point scale how users perceive the quality of mobile apps.

The graph shows that out of the company apps surveyed, the highest rated (Groupon), came from a combinations of good ratings, sales, and ease of use through both Android and IOS platforms.

More shoppers are using retailer’s mobile apps, even while they are shopping in the store. The graph below which is a result of a survey carried out by Apptentive.

The study found that that 51 percent of mobile app users use them while shopping in-store. The reasons for doing so varied from redeeming discounts to searching for products, but all illustrate an important intersection between the digital and physical shopping experiences.

Many argue that apps are unnecessary for retailers because customers simply don’t want them. It’s not that customers don’t want apps; they just don’t want apps that don’t add any value.

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As of 3pm on March 21, a wide range of semi-automatic weapons have been reclassified under section 74A(c) of the Arms Act as requiring an E endorsement on a firearms license. This means they can no longer be sold to those with A-category gun licenses, and their purchase now requires police approval.

Social scoreboard

Zavy and The Register have worked together to create a scoreboard that compares how the top 25 traditional media advertising spenders in New Zealand have performed on social media over the past 30 days, updated in real time.

In the wake of the attack on Christchurch’s Muslim community on March 15, strong calls for changes to New Zealand’s gun last have been made. Trade Me was the first retailer to act, halting the sale of all semi-automatic weapons on its platform, and it has now been joined by Hunting & Fishing New Zealand.

As 2018 comes to an end, what a more fitting Instagram page to celebrate than our own. NZ Retail Magazine has had a busy year, and keeping readers up to date through our Instagram page has been an important part of that. Plus it looks pretty good if you ask any of us.

Let the retail store name generator rebrand your business

We know every shop name is chosen with care and attention, but it's a crowded market out there, and sometimes the results can seem a little random. Instead of fighting that randomness, we thought, why not just go with it?

If you were born in a leap year, you can add some not-so-exotic spice to your business name with our random French or Italian word generator. If not, carry on to the next table.